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November is National Adoption Month. I know we are at the end of November but I wanted to share this great children's book with you about adoption. The book is called Adopted Ed and is written by Darren Maddern.

Adopted Ed is illustrated beautifully with simple and fun characters. The story follows a little boy named Ed who has been adopted. We follow Ed through his early years, being bullied at school, learning and accepting he is adopted but special. I love the page where Ed says "My parents chose me, yours were stuck with you". I feel this is a great way to address adoption and how to handle being bullied with peers. It's a light hearted story even younger children can enjoy. My son had a lot of why's and wasn't quite sure about why Ed had been adopted but I will be reading this book again and discuss with him more about adoption. I think it was abit too advanced for my three year old to understand right now but in a year or so I think she will enjoy it also. I don't feel you need to be adopted to enjoy this book. It is a great way to teach children of the different situations that are around us and everyone is special.

The author Darren Maddern was adopted himself and wants to share his story with his readers. Please visit Adopted Ed to read more about Darren Maddern and his story. Also find out more about Adopted Ed and an upcoming new book called Tall Moll. You can also connect with Darren on Facebook and Twitter

With technology all around us these days we all know a lot of children don't get as much exercise as they should. Storyland Yoga reaches out to the children to be in touch with the environment, while the benefits of yoga provides them health, clarity, and calmness.

Storyland Yoga is a playful kid's yoga DVD geared for 3-8 years of age. Ahmed Fahmy is a Certified Children's Yoga instructor and he takes the children on two fun-filled adventures, Save the Whale and Condor Trek, in which they learn yoga poses by imitating animals and gain interest in the planet by helping endangered species.

Get ready to play – the planet-friendly way!

Review: I want to Thank Karen Duggan for letting my family review Storyland Yoga. We had a wonderful time doing both stories. My son and I did the Condor Trek right when the video came in. I will let everyone know if you don't already workout and you give these videos your all you may just feel it the next day or two! I know I did, mostly in the belly muscles. Both my children enjoyed following along with Ahmed and the children on the video. The video's are easy to follow along for all ages, even for mommies who have never done yoga before. Ahmed teaches the children during the stories about saving the condor babies (returning the eggs to the condor mommy) and also saving the whole who ends up on the beach. It gets the children in touch with the environment and saving the animals that are endangered.

7. Blog about this giveaway and leave me a comment with the link to your post. (5 entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada. This giveaway ends on December 15th, 2010 at Midnight EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org on December 16th, 2010 and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck!

~* Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of Storyland Yoga from Karen Duggan for review purposes. All opinions here are honest and that of my own. *~

I went to Zellers to see if I could price match the Your Shape Wii game and their regular price was $64.99. I was turned down for a price match. I will look into the price match policy for Zellers soon and will let everyone know about it.

I then went to Walmart and their regular price was $29.97 and I was able to get a price match with my Shopper's flyer! So I am now the new proud owner of Your Shape. I better get my butt in shape now... haha.

~*Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored post. All opinions are that of my own.*~ ﻿

﻿From the Publisher: The Clinton St. Baking Company is one of the hottest brunch spots in a city obsessed with brunch. A tiny thirty-two-seat eatery on Manhattan's trendy Lower East Side, the restaurant draws long lines of customers who come from far and wide to sample fresh-baked goods, hearty omelets, sugar-cured bacon, and light-as-air pancakes with maple butter.

In the Clinton St. Baking Company Cookbook, owners DeDe Lahman and Neil Kleinberg share more than 100 treasured recipes that have made their restaurant a sensation. Learn the secret to their house-made buttermilk biscuits and tomato jam, irresistible muffins and scones, delicious soups and sandwiches, and their decadent, eye-catching desserts. Helpful techniques, like Neil's
patented omelet "flip and tuck," and gorgeous color photographs throughout will have readers cooking like pros in no time, and sharing the delicious results.

Review: Right away when I saw the cover and write up for this book I knew I would love it. I love to bake so who am I kidding when it comes to breakfast, cookies and muffins? When the book arrived for review my son opened it with me and right away we need to try the pancakes. We flipped through the book and a lot caught my attention as a must try. We chose two cookie recipes to start with since Christmas baking will be coming up. We tried Chocolate Chunk Cookies (p. 197) and Maple Walnut Cookies (p. 201). For both recipes the directions are pretty easy to follow and the ingredients are everyday pantry staples. Both of the cookies got a two thumbs up with my children of course. I loved how the chocolate chunk cookies had cinnamon in them, it made an interesting but good taste. My kids have put in a request for the next weekend I'm off to make pancakes. Maybe I will make them some nice homemade Clinton St. Baking Company Pancakes for Christmas morning!

Chocolate Chunk Cookies

These went over very well. Dh took a few to work and ended up with none for himself. They got great reviews from his co-workers.

Maple Walnut Cookies

These I could have baked a bit less but they are soooo good! I love these. I will be making them again and again. They taste great with a cold glass of milk. Hmm maybe Santa will put in a request for these :)

Where to buy it: You can find The Clinton St Baking Company Cookbook at Indigo.ca $22.56 Members or $23.75 and Amazon.ca for $22.56. Pre-Order today as the release date is November 8th, 2010

~*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachetter Book Group, Anna Balasi at The Product Review Place for review purposes. All opinions on my blog are that of my own.*~

All the favourite stores now with Canadian shipping! New page coming up for Great Canadian Shopping links!
Etsy shops, ebay shops all are welcome. If you have a favourite store that you like to shop and it ships to Canada please leave a comment or email me :)

I posted back in September about CSN Stores and how they have 200+ different stores online. I was given a giftcard to purchase something on their stores and review it. I had a really hard time to figure out what I would like to review. There are WAY too many things and takes a LONG time to browse through the stores. I don't think I even chiped a corner of whats available! Grab a cup of coffee while in your pj's and enjoy a nice shopping trip from the comfort of your own home.

So I looked and looked and looked. Finally I decided on a Pink popcorn maker. Actually a Pink Hello Kitty popcorn maker.

When I placed my order I did notice some high shipping prices, especially for smaller things. I was thinking of getting an apron but it was going to cost almost double with the shipping and international fees. That I would say is the only downside. They do offer a lot of items with free shipping, you just pay international fees(duty and brokerage - you then don't have to worry about it at the door). The shipping was extremely fast and I ordered on the weekend and it was here Friday morning before 10am!

Today we finally got a chance to pull this Kitty out and see how she works! This post will be picture heavy as the kids had a lot of fun. It's simple to use and clean. Add vegetable oil and popcorn kernels and turn it on.

Instead of "cheese" it was "popcorn!"

Parker adding the kernels

Abby waiting for the first POP!

When the popping is done you just put the top on the lid and flip the machine over and your ready to eat right from the pink bowl!

The end product. Believe me there wasn't much left after they got their hands on it!

The final review: I really enjoyed my shopping experience at the CSN Stores and would shop there again in the future!

﻿

~*Disclaimer: I received a giftcard to make a purchase at the CSN Stores for the purpose of this review. All opinions on my blog are that of my own.*~

A Christmas Carol has been retold by many, and remade into many movies but this book is yet another great way to enjoy a classic tale.

Review: This book is the greatest detailed pop-up book I have seen! There are only 6 pages that pop-up but the pictures are very detailed and just beautiful. I have found this book to be for older children maybe ages 6-8 and up. My children loved looking at the pictures but to read the book it was abit too much for them to sit through right now at their ages. Each pop-up page has a little book tucked into the page, five in total for the story. Just like it's own little chapter. This makes it a very neat feature of the book. There is also a little book at the beginning about the life of Charles Dickens along with the credits for the book. I love the story A Christmas Carol and this is a great addition to anyones library that loves this classic tale. I am looking forward to when my children will be able to sit and listen to the tale and take in the beauty of the pictures and enjoy the tale.

This school year is the start of my oldest going to school. My youngest will go next fall. He is in a French immersion junior kindergarten. Leading up to the school year I was very nervous he would not like it and have it be a huge adjustment. Crying and fighting every day he had to go (right now he goes alternates all day and every second Friday). I would like everyone to know I was totally wrong and my son LOVES school and homework!! He gets very excited about his school days. The day before he goes to school we make his lunch, he helps out either with picking everything out and taking it out of the fridge or putting lids on everything. He asks almost daily if tomorrow is a school day even on the weekends. He also gets very upset if he thinks he has homework to do and he hasn't finished it. They get one letter a week to practice and color a picture with the letter.

Parker doesn't get a report card in JK but they get an evaluation to let parents and teachers know where the children are at. They look at 5 different skills, In-class Distractibility, Verbal Fluency, Interest and Particapation, Letter identification and Printing skills. My son did really will in the first three getting all 4's! (it's on a scale 1-5 and 5 being very good). The french teacher even mentioned that she will ask Parker to participate in the SK work or help get stuff ready. I think its soo great that he loves to help and interact in class. I was the total opposite as I was toooooo shy!

From the Publisher: America's most delightfully unconventional hostess and the bestselling author of I Like You delivers a new book that will forever change the world of crafting. According to Amy Sedaris, it's often been said that ugly people craft and attractive people have sex. In her new book, SIMPLE TIMES, she sets the record straight. Demonstrating that crafting is one of life's more pleasurable and constructive leisure activities, Sedaris shows that anyone with a couple of hours to kill and access to pipe cleaners can join the elite society of crafters.

You will discover how to make popular crafts, such as: crab-claw roach clips, tinfoil balls, and crepe-paper moccasins, and learn how to: get inspired (Spend time at a Renaissance Fair; Buy fruit, let it get old, and see what shapes it turns into); remember which kind of glue to use with which material (Tacky with Furry, Gummy with Gritty, Paste with Prickly, and always Gloppy with Sandy); create your own craft room and avoid the most common crafting accidents (sawdust fires, feather asphyxia, pine cone lodged in throat); and cook your own edible crafts, from a Crafty Candle Salad to Sugar Skulls, and many more recipes.

PLUS whole chapters full of more crafting ideas (Pompom Ringworms! Seashell Toilet Seat Covers!) that will inspire you to create your own hastily constructed obscure d'arts; and much, much more!

Review:

This book is definitely an adults eyes only book. There are no nude pictures but there are pictures that will have the kids wondering or asking questions depending on the age. There are also some very nasty wound pictures. Simple Times reminds me a lot of 70's crafts and knick knacks. I found it more of a fun read then a craft book but as I say that I also found a few crafts I do want to try. One I want to try with the children for Christmas its the marshmallow stars (use toothpicks with glue and glitter and poke the marshmallows with them to make stars). Another is tin can characters and the great crafts with popsicle sticks. Loads of fun for the kids one afternoon. I will post the crafts as we do them.

I really liked how Amy Sedaris used herself throughout the whole book to show the crafts etc. Simple Times is defiantly a book to use to make unusual crafts and even gifts or gag gifts. If you have a twisted sense of humour this is a great read, if you are easily offended please do not read this book. With Christmas just around the corner this would make a great Christmas present (for your ugly family and friends!) :)

This book will tell the behind-the-scenes story of how The Mickey Mouse Club paved the way for all that came after, from its humble beginnings as a marketing ploy, through its short but mesmerizing run, to the numerous resurrections that made it one of television's first true cult hits--all through the recollections of those regular kids-turned-stars who made it a phenomenon. It will reveal, for the first time ever, the untold stories of Annette, Darlene, Cubby and Karen, Bobbie and the rest of the beloved cast.

Review: I really wish I could give this a better review. I just found it very hard to read since it didn't seem to be a book you can put down for a few days and come back to. I found I had a hard time remembering who is who and what is going on. At the beginning of the book the author introduces the mouseketeers, jumping from one to another. I would love to sit down and give this book another try over a weekend or when I am on vacation and may have more time to get through the whole book. I would definitely say if you were a mouseketeer fan do pick it up at the library and give it a try. It just might have been me and not the book. I will be passing along my copy to my mother who was a fan of Walt Disney's Mouseketeers.

...Featuring is Norah Jones' new album. It is a star-studded collection of the multi-platinum selling, multi-Grammy Award winning singer's musical collaborations from 2001 to 2010.

This album includes cameos, collaborations and duets with such legends as Willie Nelson, Ray Charles and Dolly Parton, along with icons from the 21st Century like OutKast! This is a must have album for any Norah Jones fan.

Norah Jones: “A lot of the people on this record are people I've worshiped since I was a kid, and some of them are younger and more my contemporaries,” says Norah. “Even though the musicians are so varied, the vibe of the songs makes sense when we put them all together.”

I have always loved Norah Jones’ soft voice and relaxing music. When I took a look at the other artists who worked with her on this album, I was very excited to get a chance to review it. I really enjoy all types of music so to find a wide array of artists on one album is very exciting as it is not common. The day my review copy came in I wasn't having the best day. My kids and I were playing play-doh as the delivery man drove passed the house. We all decided he wasn't stopping but in a couple minutes he turned around and rang the doorbell. Right away I stuck it in the CD player as we continued with our play-doh. My mood changed right from the first track. The music is so relaxing but fun. Norah's voice and music makes this a great candle light dinner type album. I don't think I can even pick out a favorite since they are all great. One song that does stand out in my mind as I write this is - Baby its cold outside with Willie Nelson. Very fun and a great version. This one just gets me in the Christmas mood. This would make a great Christmas gift for any Norah Jones fan for sure!

When you are a parent you really notice the "milestones" in your child's life. From discovering finger foods, crawling, saying their first words, entering school and so much more. My son had a lot milestones in his first year as he was born with torticollis (tight muscle in his neck so he couldn't hold his head straight) he went to physio every week from 1 month until he was 8 months old. We were not sure what to expect but as he hit each "baby" milestone it helped improve the muscle along with the physio. Another great milestone, starting junior kindergarten! Such a big boy walking in line to enter the school, not even a tear in his eye! He also just got a great report from his teachers but in his french and english class.

Cheerios has always been a part of special moments like these. Commemorate your little one’s milestones with Cheerios! Mom Central is proud to announce the Cheerios Milestones contest. You could see your little one featured on a special edition Cheerios Box and possibly even win $10,000 towards an RESP from TD Canada Trust!

I was given the opportunity from Mom Central Canada to host an intimate Cheerios Milestones Sponsored Get-together in my home with my Mom friends. Mom Central Canada provided me with a Get-together kit that included everything I would need to host a fun and entertaining get-together.

The children were pumped for this get-together for weeks. On Friday they were counting the days to the party and telling everyone they are having a Cheerios Party! When Sunday rolled around that was the first thing out of my sons mouth, "Its our Cheerios party today! YAY!!"

I had my morning coffee while cleaning the kitchen and then preparing a yummy snack recipe I found on the Cheerios website called Cinnamon-Popcorn Snack we made the Cinnamon Oat version. We also mixed another container with ABC pretzels, animal cookies (both Presidents Choice) and cheerios together for a nice little snack.

Shortly after 1pm our guests arrived ready to play! We had some free play time and then snack time. The kids sat down and looked at the snacks and jumped right in! They loved them both. Lots of talking about the ABC pretzels and the different popcorn and raisins.

After snack time it was time to get creative. We all moved into our craft room were the kids each got a Cheerio container filled with Cheerios to craft with.

My daughter (who is 3 years old) spent two hours crafting and using the Cheerios play book!

Thanks Mom Central Canada and Cheerios for the great afternoon! The kids had great things to say about the party, the best was "the party was awesome!"

~*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary get-together kit from Mom Central Canada (mom testing panel) to host a party and review. All opinions on my blog are that of my own.*~

I am looking to have a page on my blog that is geared towards Canadian Giveaways blogs and Coupon sites. If you would like to have a link on my blog please add it to the Linky below or email with your URL at foreverhealthyaloe at hotmail com
Each month (for now I hope to make it weekly or bi-weekly) I would like to have a Featured Blog or Guest post. It's a great way to get your blog and giveaways noticed and help other Canadians save or win :)

From the Publisher: The producer of An Inconvenient Truth, Laurie David's new mission is to help America's overwhelmed families sit down to a Family Dinner, and she provides all the reasons, recipes and fun tools to do so.

Laurie David speaks from her own experience confronting the challenges of raising two teenage girls. Today's parents have lots to deal with and technology is making their job harder than ever. Research has proven that everything we worry about as parents--from drugs to alcohol, promiscuity, to obesity, academic achievement and just good old nutrition--can all be improved by the simple act of eating and talking together around the table.

Laurie has written a practical, inspirational, fun (and, of course, green) guide to the most important hour in any parent's day. Chock-full chapters include: Over seventy-five kid approved fantastic recipes; tips on teaching green values; conversation starters; games to play to help even the shyest family member become engaged; ways to express gratitude; the family dinner after divorce (hint: keep eating together) and much more. Filled with moving memories and advice from the country's experts and teachers, this book will get everyone away from electronic screens and back to the dinner table.

Review: Family dinners are my all time favorite part of the day. Sadly I am missing that due to work evenings Monday to Fridays for the time being. This book is more of a book about bringing family together than a cookbook but it also has some very yummy easy recipes. We haven't been able to try a lot yet but we did try out the Little Chocolate Pies on page 209. I didn't have puff pastry but I used the Phyillo pastry and they tasted very yummy! The recipe was easy to follow and fun to make. My son helped me out. They are really hard to stop at just one lovely chocolate morsel.

The Family Dinner is sectioned off very well so it is very easy to find what you are looking for. One great section is on conversation starters. Family dinner for me is all about enjoying the food and finding out how the day was, what's on their mind or what is going on during the week. I am hoping to get back into family dinners within the next year before my children get too old. I find it right now as a great place to work on learning to count, recognize shapes, colors, tastes and talk about anything they are thinking about.

The author talks about if you can not have every night together choose a night or a breakfast when everyone can relax and enjoy time together talking. This book also features a green section on composting and growing your own spices and produce.

Next up on my list of recipes to try is Pea Nutty Noodles, Homemade Challah and Nanna's Happy Chocolate Chip Cookies.

This is an all around great book to add to your collection or just in time for a Christmas present! Mommy approved with two thumbs up!

4. Blog about this giveaway on your blog and place your link in your comment. (5 entries)

This giveaway is open to US and Canada. This giveaway ends on November 20th, 2010 at Midnight EST. One winner will be chosen by Random.org on November 21st, 2010 and notified by e-mail. Please respond within 48 hours or a new winner will be selected. Good Luck! Winners will be subject to the one copy per household rule, which means that if you win the same title in two or more contests, you will receive only one copy of the title in the mail.

~*Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from Hachetter Book Group, Anna Balasi and The Product Review Place for review purposes. All opinions on my blog are that of my own.*~